Celtic set to sign Stephen Ireland from Aston Villa says news report

Unsettled Irish midfield player Stephen Ireland may sign for Celtic says the Sunday People newspaper.

Ireland signed for Aston Villa form Manchester City a few months back for $10 million but has failed to make an impact at Villa.

He has started in only five of fourteen games.

Ireland has refused to play for the Republic of Ireland and has earned a reputation as a hard player for managers to deal with

New Villa boss Gerard Houllier has criticized him in public, saying “He needs to work harder. The skill is one thing, but you need to compete. We know he’s a good player. I don’t want to say, ‘He’s a good player ... but’.”